News Releases

Maine Companies Honored by Northeast Diesel Collaborative for Efforts to Reduce Air Pollution

(Boston, Mass. – Nov. 14, 2013) – Two Portland Maine businesses recently were praised by an EPA partnership for their efforts to reduce air pollution from diesel emissions.

The Northeast Diesel Collaborative – a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state agencies, and private and nonprofit groups – recognized Oakhurst Dairy and Maine Standard Biofuels, both of Portland, for their outstanding leadership and efforts in reducing diesel emissions. The awards were presented as part of the group’s annual recognition program.

“Diesel emissions in the northeast continue to pose health risks to people across New England,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Diesel pollution is linked to asthma, other respiratory problems and heart attacks, and is especially dangerous for children, the elderly and people who suffer from respiratory ailments. Reducing air pollution from diesel engines has real health benefits and means fewer hospitalizations, fewer missed school or work days, and a healthier quality of life.”

Oakhurst Dairy and Maine Standard Biofuels were selected as a 2013 Breathe Easy Leadership recipient because of their seven-year partnership and commitment to reducing diesel emissions. Maine Standard Biofuels locally produces biodiesel from used restaurant kitchen oil and delivers it to Oakhurst to be used as a fuel for the company’s fleet. In fact, this year alone Maine Standard Biofuels supplied Oakhurst with more than 120,000 gallons of biodiesel produced less than 10 miles away from the dairy’s processing facility. The result of the partnership has allowed Oakhurst to decrease its diesel fuel emissions up to 70 percent annually.

“It is an honor to be recognized for our fuel emission reduction efforts alongside our partner Maine Standard Biofuels,” said David Green, Oakhurst Fleet and Facilities Manager. “Today it’s possible for trucking fleets to use biodiesel without having to make equipment modifications and the benefits are really significant. Not only are we able to reduce our overall fuel emissions – a positive for the environment and our community – but we are also able to decrease total fuel costs – a positive for our business bottom line.”

“Maine Standard Biofuels is honored to be recognized alongside Oakhurst by the NEDC for our combined efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Jarmin Kaltsas, President, Maine Standard Biofuels. “We believe that by working with customers like Oakhurst we can make a difference in the environment as well as the economy. We are proud to be working with a company that has the vision of making the world a better place to live in.”

The Northeast Diesel Collaborative works in the six New England states, New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to reduce diesel emissions, improve public health and promote clean air solutions and technologies. It brings together the collective resources and expertise of EPA, state environmental agencies and private sector companies to address emissions from existing diesel-powered vehicles, marine vessels, locomotives and equipment.

The collaborative’s awards are given for outstanding service in reducing air pollution to protect human health and the environment. The winners achieve these goals by taking actions such as retrofitting and replacing older diesel engines, reducing idling from diesel engines, developing education and outreach campaigns to promote diesel emissions reduction and promoting cleaner fuels.